Toy gun



Oct. 21, 1952 T. M. SHELTON 2,614,551

TOY GUN Filed June 14, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l THOMAS M 5ba/ 70M INVENTOR.

BY MMZAM PM A TTOQUEVS T. M. SHELTON Oct. 2l, 1952 TOY GUN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1946 INVENTOR.

Oct. 21, 1952 T, M SHELTON 2,614,551

I N V EN TOR: THON/A 5 .l1/1'. 5 H51. TON.

' T. M. SHELTON Oct. 21, 1952 TOY GUN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, 1946 N. mm T L ME M M. m T

ATI'OHA/EYS.

Patented Oct. 21, n1952 UNITEDA STATES TOY GUN- Thomas M. Shelton, Glendale, Calif.-

Application June 14, 1946, SerialNo. 676,657

.6 Claims. (Cl. 124-1) The invention relates to toy guns,` and par-A ticularly to toy guns adapted to expela concentrated charge of air or gas. f

It is among lthe objects of the invention to produce a new and improved toy gun which is practical and harmless but at the same time capableA of being directed toward and shot at a target with a considerable degree of accuracy.

Another object is to provide a new and im, proved toy gun which is capable of shooting any number of charges at a target without the necessity of replenishing the gun with ammunition.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved toy gun which issafe from.A all stand-g' points, which is positive acting and which incorporatesa relatively minimum numbervof parts,

Figure 14 is a fragmentary, sectional.v exploded view ofthe parts comprising the fastening means do damage when carelessly used evenwhenthe object might be as soft, for example, as thecom- Inonly -used cork in a pop gun.' In some cases;

of rugged construction, serving to produce a toy that will give lasting pleasure for an extended period of time. n

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinaticn'of the various parts of the device whereby the 'objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the vaccom-- panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal,- sectional view of a of still Figure 7 is a side view partially in sectionof ay particular form of the device. v Y

FigureSisa plan v'view in section taken line 8+8 of Figure 7; i A l v Figure 9 is a right end view of Figure 7. l Figure 10 is a fragmentary, crossfvsectionalview on the line I04I0 of Figure 7.

Figure 11-is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sec? tional view showing in detail a means for fastening the diaphragm. i i

Figure 12 is -a fragmentary, sectional, exploded viewshowing the parts which comprise the fastening means of Figure 11. Y Y Figure 13 is a fragmentary,` longitudinal, sectionalview of `a modified type ofY fastening means for the diaphragm." f

Q11 the' as in the `familiar pop gun, the cork istied to 'ai Y string so that it cannot be s'hotftoo far. Confining means such as this are disadvantageousl-in that the gun has no accuracy andr cannotlbe directed satisfactorily atatarget. 1 l

The ring of the invention can bev likened to a smoke ring, and it has been found that if the air is expanded rapidly enough and is vofsufii-y cient volume in relation to the exit opening. a

' ring will travel outwardly at a sufficient velocity to carry the ring a necessary distance to produce satisfactory results. In the invention herein described the'object l projected from the gun is nothingfmore-than a compact vring of compressed air Aand can dol no more damage than a strong gust-,ofv wind. IilThe ringof air, however, lis suiciently compact :sof that it is adapted to travel considerable diss-a tances and isv capable of impinging .with-'consid-A erable force upon aproperly ydesigned targets-By reason of the fact ythat air finds 'its `vl'layin-tor the gun through the normal openings therlis no necessity for recharging the gun at any time since air as ammunition is alwayspresent.-A

.'InL/one embodiment chosen for the purpose .of illustration there is shown asin Figure*i 11a toyl gun comprising a barrel I0 of relatively: large diameter having a 'pistol grip yI I, a'fbree'chend I2 substantially closed except for a 'central aper-z ture I3 and a muzzle end Ill. At the muzzle; end isa flange I5 which extends inwardlyafid which? at the .center has an opening Iii ofdiameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of`r -the in-f sideofthebarrell. n 1;

Within the barrel and intermediate the! two ends is a diaphragm' I1 which may be-of rubber or. some similar flexible material secured at'rtll'e rim I8 by a confining means such, for exarl'ipl'e, as a ring I9. The ring.4 isffastenedfin positioiflf' in the embodiment shown by screws 20. if

For exine the diarihragmfthere--ls p'rovldedl a. rod 2| fas-tened by a screw 22 to the center of the diaphragm. The rod extends toward the breech end of the gun through the aperture I3 and has a knob 23 providing a hand-hold at the outside end.

In the rod is a notch 24 comprising one element of a temporary detent for holding the rod and diaphragm in vextended position as shown in Figure 1. The notch is adapted tou receive within it-oneedge'225gof` an apertureiZE- within a vertical-brace21whiclr extends between'the l.top and the bottom of the barrel.

A trigger guard 29 shields the finger grip 32 of a trigger 30. The trigger has a shape somewhatlike a bell crank lever with the mid-portion secured pivotally by a pivot pin 3| 'tolftheirinsi'deof the barrel adjacent the pistolfgrip. Thejinger grip 32 extends downwardly through an aperture 33 in the barrel into position within ther-.trigger guard 28 and forward of the pistol grip in the saule'.daariner.y astthe trigger .of are@ 'i aun 1 :0r pistol.. Mathe erin fe1lte--=side fof the; rivptgn' zthe trigger extends as a right angular shaped lever 3.9. egtorlsedep-ertion35eof'which-extends upwardly tina nestentsurroumdi-ng,themed-f2 I as best seen gwhentthefgunzis to ,be Aused-theoperator lrst` f cooles .thesgudbyfpulling ilponnt-he knob 213' 4 until thefnetehtf slpsaintoi positionfover the edge .2.5.

Dues-tothe iactithat-the diaphragm is-resilient,r

the-romand thiediaphragm-,wil-l be ,under-.tension T0: release the,v giur-it, .isV then; necessary '.Only t0 combination-:with thaliana-ev tgcausesi-.a compact ring;ofecornpressedsainto,helprcjecteckoutwardly from the muzzle end of the barrel. Experience has'rtaught thatthenompressedfrmg orfamtravels straight.i-nzangaxialfdirection witlurespectmdthe;

barret forza considerable distancesmanyitimesthe lengthofithebarrel withoutfany;iappreciablecdise. persionnrthetairwhiclr makes-.unime compressed:

ring. :Theeringmf airihasgsuchriorce andtcom-i pactnesstthatitisrapable ofjdisiodgingza planer target-shot at .from ydistances las-great aszthe lengthzofsanaverage size living room. Y

: '.Theggunfaction can hel-repeatedl dust.- aszmany times Aas .mayfbe desredby:merelyeagainrocking the gun-sand; squeezing theatrigger.: .f-,Each time..

the-"gunLispockedr sufficient -airiisdrawn ,through thel` r1'1uzzle;;.endl tol ll the .space within .the .barrel forward :of thea daphragmp and 1a .part of this ain iis-,driven outwardly in the form .z .of "1a :come pressed ring-every vtimethe gunis discharged.v

.fAlt'hougha inzthe embodiment-first referredftov thesfresiliency :of -..thev .diaphragm is Y.depended upcmv rio'r;` drt-ving the. diaphragm fforward, it @will befappreciated :that-,other resilientmeansrmayfbe added if a greater impact is desired.. .The ,effectiYenesS-fofftheharge of compressed airrdriven from-.thegg-un .can besascertainedfif .the .forward portion ofpthegbarrelis;partiallygnlledywithssmoke or `A du stearid it is contemplated that .y for added n placed withinfthelgun barreli andauportionfof it' piekedpp `eachtitre.dieseuils-is disk)deed.,H

In a modied form of the device illustrated in Figure 3 a barrel 40 of the usual dimensions has been provided having a customary closed breech end 4I and a ange 42 at the muzzle end. A diaphragm 43 is stretched taut within the barrel intermediate the ends and held in place by a ring 44 and screws 45. A pistol grip 46 and trigger guard 41 are likewise provided.

In this instance, the means for actuating the diaphragmkis' incorporated in afhammer 48 which isf-mounted upon-a- 1everarmf-4S'pivoted"by means of a pin 50 extending in a transverse direction wi-thin the barrel. The hammer is held in position by a coiled compression spring 5| which is mounted upon a bracket 52 likewise within the rbarrel. Forlactuating the hammer there is provided a trigger .53 pivotally supported upon a pin 54 at the forward portion of the grip beneath the barrel. A plurality of iinger grips 55 extend radially outwardly from-,the center of the trigger andjareadapted tog rotatezwithin thegpistolfgrip and'uthrough ,a1slot,56 inthe bottom ofthe fbarrel.4

The arrangement illustratediand,.described connection withFigure 3 :is-.a'repeatingfarrangement. I. In'. operationv .one .of4 .they ringergrips will always extend downwardly .wi-thinrthe .trigger guardin a position. toy bejpulleo'l*` hythe, operator At the samettime. another, ofg'thefngerfgrips vwill occupy a position-55 incontact.iwithsatlowerfextension: 51 of the `lever .49; As the 4,trigger -is pulled the last mentioned -ngengrp will JbeiA pressed forward from the,positionz55'=and will force the, hammer -48 rearwardly against the-.tensioni of (theu compressions-spring `5 Asulsoon fas the tip :end ofthenger gri-p has heenpul-ledpastf the. v.lower extension f of y the :levert tension built up .in .the spring 5 l .-wiil snap.. the .hammer sud-v denly. forwardto a position--48 .-whereit :will .im-- pinge against Ythe diaphragm and *drive'ftheidiaphragmforwardly to-.a position 43.-',

Thespring 5| maybe one selectedthavngsgsuf.- flcient ,force and. with sa -suriilcient.numberfnfv windings so that thev hamn'ierAv isl driven through a distance` forward far` enough to.V push v.the .diaphragm well into 'therbarrelg cavi-tyat the; forward end of the gun. :'Iihe-actionislsuiiciently` rapid and made" with fsuidcient force tov compress a quantity of. airlbetween .the diaphragmandthe flange.. 42 f into .thek form rof aring of, airfand.-sendV it out of the barrel of the guninfthessameinanner aswas described inconnectionfwithf Figure: 1. The spring will thenl immediately .return rfthe hammer toits initial positionaV In this .embodiment no cockingiof lthegrazi-lis neededV sinceras Csoon as fone: lofi-.the ngerjgrps has ,been pulledgthrough a .distance suificienttto dischargel the. gun thev next ,ngergrip isin; place and another finger grip opposite theretowillY likewise beinpla-ce V`againstv the., lower vextension ,of the lever` A9.. In ithis arrangement :they-guilds immediately ready to :bef-,dischargedl a secondtime, .and repeated.; shots can beffmadeiwith-the gun as fast as the operator can-fpullsthe trigger;

In still another .embodimentofzthe inventiomas shown in. Figure 4 thereizprovided atgunthaving muzzle 4fend., sIn this instance, jthe diaph-raggmLis replaced vwith a piston -1-63 having aycup washeri 64 at the edge positioned so thatitneanslidefwith-s inthe barrel ofthe gun. lArojd :SBEisfjattached by means of va screw-:Sisto the;.pistonandnextends rearwardly through an aperture-'6wwithinfafcrossi stick |59-,1 ansaperture 1:0 inf thebreech and: thence outwardly :terminating .inga knob' 1 .Thetrodinz this instance has a notch '|2 ad-aptedftoitnverf 4.brackets 9|.

the lower edge of the aperture 68 in the same lmanner as described in connection with Figure 1.

The gun4 in the vembodiment illustrated in Figure 4 isreleased by the same trigger mechanism as described in connectionwith Figure'l and incorporates a trigger grip 'I3 and an angular llifting lever I4 pivoted at the point 15.

I In this latter instance, there is provided a large coiled spring 'I6 which is fastened to the inside surface of the fiange |52 and to the adjacent surface of the piston 63. When the rod 56 is drawn yrearwardly to a cocked position the spring is `ring in the manner previously described.

To Yvary the style yof the gun it may beprovided with a rie stock as shown in Figure 5, and the barrel of any one of the formsmay be extended as indicated at 8| so as to fit over the rifle stockwithout altering the mechanical operation of the gun itself. If preferred, the rod may terminate in'a knob 82 extending at right angles to the axis of` the rod so as to give the effect of the characteristic loading bolt used on real guns. In this instance, the knob is at the end of a right angular lever 83 lextending upwardly through a slot 84 at they top of the barrel. A wall 85 `may be used to entirely close the breech. In other respects the mechanical arrangement of .Figure is similar to that of Figure 4.

By yway of example, there is shown in Figure .6

the type described. It may comprise a frame 90 supported in an erect position by means of Suspendedfrom the upper horizontal portion of the frame may be a seriesof paper or other streamers 52 colored or marked so as to indicate a bulls-eye $3.y If the streamers are permitted to hang freely. they will shake surdciently to indicate a hit when the compressed ring of air discharged from the gun impinges upon the target. n Y

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that there has been provided a toy gun which is particularly easy to operate and which by reason of shooting nothing other than the compressed ring of air can be operated freely about the house without fear of creating any undue damage.

In a particular form of the device which has been designed to suggest some of the so-called modern weapons there is shown in Figures 7, v8, 9 and 10a voretex gun having substantiallyv the same principles previously described.

The gun comprises a body |00 having a streamlined breech end |0I and a muzzle end |02. The muzzle end has an enlarged cylindrical portion |03 tapered abruptly along an' inwardly curved line |04 to a muzzle orice |05 which has a-diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical portion |53. A flexible, resilient diaphragm |05 is mounted at the muzzle end of the cylindrical portion and in the course of operation is adapted to be moved between positions |06 and |06". n

As is customary, the gun is provided with a pistol grip |01, a trigger guard |08, a trigger |09 and a cooking bar or lever IIO, the cooking lever being pivoted at the point I II to the rear face of the cylindrical portion |03.

In order to operate the gun, means must be provided for pulling the diaphragm rearwardly to the position |06 and suddenly releasing it so "6 rthat due to its inherent resilience it snaps quickly forward to theposition |06. v i

In this embodiment the operating mechanism consists of a bolt II5 which slides freely within a bushing I6 located in the body axially with respect to the center of the diaphragm. l The bushing is provided with along slot I I'I which is adapted to accommodate a bracket I I8 connected by means of `a link I I9 toa pivot point |20 on the cooking bar. tion that the center line betweenv the bracket ||8 and the pivot point I I is over center with regard to the pivot point |20 when the cooking bar isin closed position. By virtue of this arrangement the cooking bar is snapped and held in a cooking position until the kdiaphragm can be released.

At the inner endr of the bolt I I5 is a forked portion |2I having two tines between which is pivotally mounted a hooked element |22. The hooked element has a base |23 cut on the bias so as to abut against a bias shoulder |24 at the end of the bolt. A leaf spring |25 attached tothe underside of the bolt acts against the hooked element tending always to raise it tothe position shown in Figure 7 above which the hooked element is prevented from moving by the bias shoulder I2Il.

The trigger |05, pivoted at the point |25, has a forwardly extending portion |21 which is adapted to slide over a pin |28 which is attached by means of an extension |25 to the forward end of the hooked element. A U-shaped eyelet |30 is attached by means of washers I3I and |32 to the center of the diaphragm. The diaphragm Amay be stretched and held in placeby a ring |33 which bears outwardly against the inside wall of th cylindrical portion |03.

, In operation the parts of the gun will initially have the positions shown in Figure 7. To rst cock the gun it is necessary to lift the cooking bar IIIl to the dotted position IIO. This movement draws the bolt II5 forwardly until the hooked element occupies the position |22. In this position the end of the hooked element springs downwardly upon contacting the U-shaped eyelet |30 and is then snappedupwardly by means of the leaf spring |25. vAfter the bolt has thus engaged the diaphragm, the cocking bar is pressed downwardly toits original position, and this movement forces the bolt II5 rearwardly to a cocked position wherein itis locked by the over center relationship of the link IIB. During this movement the bracketv IIS slides along the slot Ill. Meanwhile, a spring f ,|34 or other appropriate means will hold the trigger up. Y

rWhen the trigger is pulled, the forward portion |21 thereof moves downwardly to the dotted position shown in Figure 1. This pulls the hooked element downwardly and releases the eyelet and the diaphragm so that the diaphragm snaps abruptly forward, thus expelling air through the muzzle orifice.

It is important to note that the tines I2! extend sufficiently far vforward so that the eyelet will rest upon the tines in an axial position while the hooked element is being released, thus maintaining the diaphragm in a centered balanced po.- sition so that it will drive forward in a straight,

true line providing maximum efficiency in the dis- It should be noted in this connecneniit' anamplewamount orfani. to nowLincbehind the diaphragm so that? there svinotendencyt'ota 'vacuum I to .b'etor'rned Vto .inhibits the maximum lamo ilx'itto'frfomlardjy spring when 'the daphra'gmzis releasze'd.-

vvWhile conventi@nal -rnea'nsr` ofl'one -so'rt'i'or anfothe'rmay be utilizedto securefthediaphragmin prperiposition, :clue to" 'the' fact @that the diaph-ragmi'simadel of: rubber'landmightneedl to'be 4replacedfrom time to timela tfquick 'andgeasy v`means-roi nnountingthe diaphragm is desirable.

SOne suchmeans.isi4 illustrated? :in detail-in Figu'res .llnan'd' 112'. This' consists' of-provid'irrg 'albar- -rl MIJ i having: Aaf cylindrical vv.breech ienld 14 l" ter- Arxi-inatilng 4in .ar-if edge'y |542Lwhich is: adapte'dltofreceivelfa plate-like' se'ctionftllrfor :closing :the

" -liketisection'maybexre- `At theiinsiderend ofi Vme vcylindrical.:breechend `there is".l provided af-c'orner M52 atl the'jnnctionerof Athe :cylindrical breech end with -a :curve'dnpo'r- -tion M6.- A'ring: lil'! isprovided havingzassdi'amet'er'fsomewhat .smallerE thanthe :inside wall `off. the `br'eeelrizen'd. JA rliibherfdiscl M8 is'a'daptedtoezbe inserted intofthe 'breech end, the. disc. being. .provide'd'at itsper'imeter' with bead 'fll, .t will'ribe noted that the diameter of the perimeter is'someu what I'larger .than the -inside diameter of .the 'breech end.A 'Ii-he :corrieri i245 be. desi'gnatedfas a 'shoulder' or'retaining projection.

l=For inserting the .rubberidisc itis'n'eeessary 'only toplace vthen-discevenlyover the ledge M2 and lth'enpress thei'rin'g lfd 'iagai'nstthe diaphragm; e5;rtendin'gtheringand diaphragm until' they :en- 'g'a'ge'zthe'corneri M 5. Legsxor lspaeens'v l1-ettaro pro- Ividedfonftheiring l Ill, and when" theplate l d3 I is moved into position, the legsaerispacers A rings andv disc'against the corner; holding'. the .rnbber: disc taut. 'The disc'is;.given.isu.ch.a diameter thatlthecbeadj lgxrests .snugly upony the rearge'dge ofut'he ring' when .the deviceisassembled.

ln' ai'. niodied=-type of fastening?` means for the discconsid'eration isltakenof the fact thatordinarysheetr'ubber maybe available at'times'where it might znot .be feasible to. mol/d ."a 'disc "with 'a bead. watsthe ..pe'rimleten Under such .circumstances,rasimple.'latdiscLl5! offnatnral or syntheticrub'ber is formed havingv fa perimeter'. substantiallylarger thanthe 'outside .diameter of fa 'cylindrical portion .r5.2 which, when'lassembled, :constitutes-e portionriof ,therioreechffendz'of 'algun .barrel .153.. ilhexrnhber'rdi'sc' is 'provided' Witha sericsrof. .holes f l' t4 which are spaced 'and 'sized vto litpins` tongaaring F56. Thecylindricaliporition l. lziislprovflded'Withiaimolded inner ring 155i' 'l having an inner bead l58 and providing 'an 'an- .nular recess $59 at the bottom of which are apertures` i613. The bead Midis spaced inwardly from .an edge [6| which is adaptedto fit intoa recess '|-62 on .a curveclportion l t3 of the barrel.

When this type of mounting for therubber disc is utilized, the disc is Viirst spread over the edge I6 l, and then the ring 15S is appliedwithzthepins .|55 extending through the-holes 151i. The-ring is .their pressed into the annular recess l'l, and vthi's assembly operation tends to stretch the rubber disc taut-across the bead i258. The' ring may 'enter vthe recess sufficiently so that the pins are actually received in theapertures 63. v'Ihefrin'g is firmly andy permanently anchored in place 'by application of the cylindrical portion H52 to the. curved por-tion |63' ofthe barrel, and the partsare'anchored together'by a screw |64.

Both means .of .mounting `the .rubber disc are feasyto disassemble so that the disc may be reipla'ced..iandthe partsfreassembledwith'rconsiderl- `abl'efea'se. Thefarrangement likewise facilitates assembly .1in .the .'r'st instance. VEither typey of mountingian'ay constituteipartsf lof' molded material-'such :aszplastic 'orimetal, whichever-.is vmost 'feasibleifrom .the `pointuof .view-,ot manufacture. The object .primarily is to 1: provide a: quick.` land Aeasy means" for replacinga-th'errubberf discwh'ich forrmost efcientrop'erationlof the gun should -remain'reasonablyitaut.-

J'AlthoughLthe :invention hasl been l'herein shown zandldescribed in'rwhatris"conceivedato be4 .the most .practical .and zpreferred embodiment, .it/is reco'gnize'drthat departuresmayfb'e madevth'erefrom withinthenscopeiof .'th'ei invention, whichrris l not to be limited;to'theldetailstdisclosedherein lbutis to beeaceordedl theifulltscope'ofathe lclaims so as .to zem'brace' anysand'. all :equivalent structures.

The invention I. having. been .i herein.V described, lw'hairisI-claimedfand sought tonb'e lsecnredaby' IlettersnPatentis'z.

:.1. 5A 'yor-tex ."nunaicomprisin'gia h'ollowfbarreliof 'relatively' large 'dia-meter'. having'a breech :endend .ar muzzle eend, 'meansA forming a .clear 'aperture :of diameters substantially less. than .the insidea'diameter; of 'the'.'barrelattthe breech .end-'the portion votf's'aid'aperture 'of'sinallest i diametera forming.. the ontermost'fend of-Lth'ez-muzzle, 'an inherentlyre- 'silient diaphragm :circumferentialfly attached to 'the '.Iharrel intermediate .the .Jends .lof-itsaidl barrel, having normally a released '.positionissai'dlbarrel having. atrpre'g'ressively '.ziecreasingidiameter 'from '.t'he'diaphragmto'the'muzzle .end;.'atr1iggen mech- 'anism .connected Kto 'the barrelladjacent Y.the :breecnaiifrcludingailingerifgrip and meansibetween the diaphragm ...and fthe r ringer .'g'rip i :adapted "Lto cock gs'aid. trigger mechanism,saidlJtriggenm'echanism beingeonnected .to the diaphragm in' cocked '.positionlandwhereinthe.diaphragm is Withdrawn from the released' .position to:a'.'resi'lientlymetained rcockedapositlon, saididiap'hragminp'on r'el'e'asefrom .th-e '.triggenlneohanism' hein'g adapted to J canse.' 'a rapid displacement of air from the diaphra'gmito the .muzzle iaperture'thereby rtorcrea'te and :eject an .'ontwardly.m'otfin'gxringiof air..

2. .AnsairlyortexA gun comprising. a 'hollowiharr'el fof;` relatively .large "diametenagun stoclzfor the barrel, a :.breechfendf'and :a .muzzle end on said barreLlsaidmuzzle 'end 'having aclear'apertire substantially smaller in diameter thannth'efinsilie .diameter Vof the barrell at thebreech 'end-'fand .forming they outermost 'enduof At'hezb'a'rre'l 'atlthe .muzzle .end,..said. aperture :being 'of negligible length relative' i-to'iithe'. length ofi the barrel, aninherently resilient ydiap'hragn'i i; mech ani'sm in vthe barrel: adjacent. .said breech fend,\said mechanism .including a. diapmagmandiresilienti drive'medium 4adapted `to :rapid r limited .movement toward i the muzzle endftrigger means Ain ithelbarrlelfand lassociated f therewith -orming'part :of said Imecha- 'nis-m', ,gana interconnection .between-the 'cl-ianhra'gln .and 'the trigger? meansfornocking theldiaphragm 'mechanisI-ni in a' Withdrawnfnosition Eandthe'nre- .leasing t the diaphragm mechanism :for :rapid displacement-.of -air thereby `in `a direction Vtoward the muzzle end, and a diaphragm shifterfextend'- ing from a location of .engagement `With the dia- .phragm'to the exteriorof the stock adapted to shift'th'e diaphragm to cocked position,-.said.n- .ter'connec'tion comprising a .cockingfelementhaving areleasa'ble engagement with thediaphragm in cocked position wherein the diaphragmis withdrawn' under tension 'and a release member .incorporated with 'the'trig'ger meansadapted torelea-se EVVthe"t'oc'zking element` 'from' engagement for 9 said displacement in a direction toward the muzzle end.

3. An air gun comprising a barrel having a, muzzle end substantially smaller in diameter than the end opposite therefrom, a resilient diaphragm mounted transversely of said. barrel, means for grasping and drawing said diaphragm rearwardly comprising an axially slideable bolt adapted to shift between a diaphragm engaging position and a diaphragm stretching position, a releasable diaphragm engaging latch connected to the bolt, Va handle and a trigger adjacent the bolt and being in communication with the latch when the bolt and latch are in engagement with the diaphragm in diaphragm stretching position, said trigger when pulled being movable from a cocked position to a release position and adapted in release position to disengage the latch and release the diaphragm from the bolt.

4. An air gun comprising a barrel having a muzzle end substantially smaller in rdiameter than the end opposite therefrom, a resilient diaphragm mounted transversely of the barrel, means for grasping and drawing said diaphragm rearwardly comprising an axially slideable bolt, an engaging element attached to the bolt adjacent the diaphragm engageable with-the diaphragm when the bolt is slid to a diaphragm engaging position, a cooking lever pivoted to the barrel at the upper side linked to the bolt and adapted toA shift said bolt between a diaphragm engaging position and a diaphragm stretching position, a handle and a trigger adjacent said bolt, said trigger being engageable with the engaging element when said element is in diaphragm stretching position, said trigger being movable when pulled from a cocked position to a releasing position and adapted in releasing position to release the diaphragm from the bolt.

5. An air gun comprising a barrel having a muzzle end substantially smaller in diameter than the end opposite therefrom, said barrel having inwardly curved walls between the ends and a flexible resilient diaphragm adjacent the large end, means for grasping and stretching said diaphragm rearwardly comprising an axially slideable bolt having one end directed toward the diaphragm, an engaging element at the end of the bolt directed toward the diaphragm having one position of engagement with the diaphragm when the bolt is slid to its position nearest the diaphragm and another position released from envgagement with the diaphragm, a cookingv lever the lever and the bolt adapted to shift said bolt between a diaphragm engaging position and a diaphragm stretching position, a handle and a trigger adjacent the end of the bolt directed toward the diaphragm, said trigger being engageable with the engaging element when vsaid bolt is indiaphragm stretching position, said trigger being movable'from an engaging position to a releasing position when pulled and adapted thereby to release vthe diaphragm fromv the bolt.

6. An air gun comprising a barrel having a muzzle end substantially smaller in diameter than the end opposite therefrom, said barrel having inwardly curved walls between the ends and a :dexible resilient diaphragm adjacent the large end,

means for grasping land drawing said diaphragml y rearwardly, a bolt having an axially slidable mounting in the gun with one end of the bolt directedv axially toward theY diaphragm and a bolt shifter extending from the bolt to the `exterior of the gun adapted to shift the bolt between a, diaphragm engaging position and a diaphragm.A

stretching position, said bolt having a temporary connecting portion for the diaphragm at the end thereof directed toward the diaphragm, a handle and a trigger adjacent the bolt and engageable with the bolt when the bolt is in diaphragm stretching position, said trigger being shiftable when pulled from an engaging position to a releasing position and in releasing position being adapted to release the diaphragm from the bolt.

THOMAS M. SHELTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

